Roller-skate wheel.



PATENTED DEC. 17, 1907.

' T. s. LBITGH.

ROLLER SKATE WHEEL. APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 22, 1907.

5% am ,4 ZWWY THOMAS S. LEITCH, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

ROLLER-SKATE wnnnL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dee.'1'7, 1907.

I Application filed June 22. 1907. Serial No. 380.340.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS S. LEITCH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Roller-Skate Wheels,

.of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accom-- panying drawing.

This invention relates to an improvement in roller skate wheels, and more particularly to an interchangeable ball cup and tire.

The object of the inventlon is the construction of a wheel particularly adapted for roller skates, which comprises a minimum number of parts, is simpleand durable, and comparatively inexpensive to construct.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts, as will be hereinafter, fully described and claimed.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a wheel constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fi 2 is a vertical, central section of the whee depicted in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the interchangeable ball cups.

It is to be understood that the primary object of my invention is to reduce or minimize the cost of construction of the rollers or wheels. The aluminium rollers or wheels now manufactured are cast in a solid wheel with a permanent steel core. Furthermore, after the rim of an ordinary wheel has been slightly worn, it will break, and, therefore,

- the wheel has to be thrown away, entailing a loss of a solid wheel core and more aluminium than is required to make one of my'tires.

With my invention, the frame constituted by parts 1, 2, and. 3, hereinafter specifically described, has no wearing parts, and is perpetual or everlasting, and can be used after the tire has been worn out, by merely replacing another tire at a cost not exceeding one-third of the cost of the entire wheel.

constructed of dropped forged or cast metal,

as for instance, iron or steel, whereas the tire 4 is, preferably, formed of aluminium. The tire 4 is fitted upon the periphery of the rim 2.and said tire is provided at one side with a permanent, depending, annular large flange 5, which flange fits over one of the side-edges of the rim 2, while the other smaller flange 5 is ressed from the tire in position by a die that forces the frame in said tire. I i It will be noted that the rim 2 is not of the. same width as the tire, but that the flanges 5 and 5 constitute a continuation of said rim, which produces a very durable and strong structure, especially as the lateral strain on the rim, when the skate is in use, will not permit the tire or rim to have indeendent lateral movements, as the annular anges act as astop and fixedly securing the tire and rim together. It will be noted that the fixedly securin of the rim '2 to the tire 4, as is accomplished by my peculiar structure,

forms a very rigid connection, besides said rim materially reinforces the aluminium tire.

1, preferably, em loy two interchangeable ball cups, each of which is substantially L-shaped in cross-section, see Fig. 2. Each cup comprises an annular primary portion 6 and an auxiliary portion 7; The auxiliary portion 7 is provided with an annular groove or ball-race 8. When the cu s are parallel and in engagement with said ub,-tl1e inner faces of the auxiliary portions 7 are parallel, and are spaced from each other by an annular, central rib, or spacing flange that reinforces the backs of the cu s, and revents said cups from being force by outslde pressure further than their normal osition. The reinforcing annular rib materially increases the strength and life of the cups, as the cups are reinforced at that portion where considerable strain is upon the same, whereas with ordinarily constructed wheels, ball-receptacles are. provided with flanges on their outer edges, overlappin the outer edges of the hubs, for holding t e same in position, leaving all of the strain on the weakest part of the cup, to wit: at the back, which causes the ball-cup to easily break, and it is costly to repair. These undesirable results are obviated by my peculiar structure, as will be apparent to one conversant with the art to w 'ch my invention relates.

It will be noted that the outer edges of the cups, see Fig 2, are ositioned in the same vertical plane in whic the outer edges of the hub are formed, to facilitate the assembling and cooperation of the parts of the axle.

It will be obvious-that owing to the similar structure of the cups, it is immaterial as to their position within the hub 1. In other words, one of the cups can be removed and the other cup inserted in its place, as said cups are interchangeable. Furthermore, a supply of these cups can be kept on hand, and as one cup is destroyed or worn out, a new cup can be inserted to take the place of the old cup.

Other advantages could be mentioned for the peculiar structure of my cups, as for instance, while they are not heavy, they form a suitable cup or pocket for the balls 10, besides reinforcing the ring-shaped or cylindrical hub 1 throughout its entire length.

A compartment 9 is formed by the reinforcing and spacing rib 9 between the backs or primary portions 6 of the ball-cups, said compartment 9' acts as a cooling means for the cups when they are heated by any friction, caused by the rotation of the balls, shown by dotted lines 10, Fig. 2.

Any suitable axle, as shown, for instance, by dotted lines 11, may be employed in connection with my improved wheel, as well as bearin s carried by the axle and engaging the balls. Furthermore, for decreasing the weight of the wheel, I also provide the vertical flange 3 with a ertures or openings 12.

It is to be noted that by reason of the de pending, annular flanges 5 and 5 of the tire, i the rim 2 is really countersunk 1n the aluminium tire, thereby greatly increasing the strength of the entire structure, because the tire is materially stiffened, as well as the rim is protected from any foreign object striking the same which may tend to crack orbreak it.

\V hat I claim is:

1. A wheel or roller, comprising a singlepiece frame, said frame comprisinga cylindrical hub and a cylindrical rim, a flange in tegrally connecting said hub and rim at their center, a depending, annular rib integral with the central portion of said hub, a tire positioned upon said rim, and ball-cups positioned within said hub and having their acks engaging said rib.

2. A wheel or roller comprising a singlea hub, a flange integrally connecting said rim and hub, a reinforclng rib formed within and integral with the hub, a tire upon said rim, and ball-cups positioned within said hub and having their backs engaging said reinforcing r1 3. As a new article of manufacture, a roller-skate wheel, comprising a single-piece frame provided with a rim and a hub, a reinforcing rib formed within and integraLwith said hub, a flange integrally connecting said rim and hub at their centers, and ball-cups positioned within the hub and having their acks bearing against said rib.

4. A roller-skate Wheel, comprising a single-piece frame, said frame comprising a rim and a hub integral] connected at their centers, a reinforcingri formed in the center of and integral with said hub, ball-cups having bodies substantially L-shaped in cross-section, positioned entirely within said hub, and having their backs bearing against and reinforced by said rib and their outer ends or edges lying flush or parallel with the outer, vertical edges of said hub, and a tire engaging said rim.

5. A roller-skate wheel or roller, comprising a single-piece frame provided with a cylindrical rim and hub integrally connected I intermediate their ends or edges, ball-cups positioned entirely within said hub and having their edges lying flush with the outer,

edges of said hub, reinforcing and spacing means positioned between an engaging the i backs of said cups and secured to the inner wall of said hub, and a tire positioned upon said frame.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

THOMAS S. LEITCH.-

ALLAN WATSON,

Witnesses:

1 R. H. LEE.

piece frame, said frame comprising a rim and 

